Lighting system for



Aug. 14, 1934.

Original Filed July 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwue'ntot Aug. 14, 1934. H. T. KINGSBURY 19,271

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TOY AUTOMOBILES Original Filed July 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued Aug. 14, 1934 p Re. 19,211

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR TOY AUTOMOBILES Harry T. Kingsbury, Keene, N. H., assignor to Kingsbury Manufacturing Company, Keene, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Originai No. 1,86%),251, dated May 24, 1932, Serial No. 553,695, July 28, 1931.

Application for reissue February 26, 1934, Serial No. 713,065

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a lighting system for a toy automobile.

One of the features of the present invention is a lighting system employing a standard dry cell battery, in conjunction with certain novel structural elements by which current is conducted from the battery to the lights.

Another feature of the invention is a structural assemblage by which the battery supporting means operates in conjunction with the ,cur-

rent conductors for supporting the battery and for conveying current to the several lights.

A further feature of the invention comprises the provision of a manually operable switch member for lighting and extinguishing the lights.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of peculiar structural parts for supporting a light bulb and for conducting current to and from the same.

These and other objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification and claims, and one illustrative form of presenting the invention is represented on the accompanying'drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of a toy automobile body;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the body; 1

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a conductor member for the front lights;

scale, substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a securing and conducting clip for a rear light;

3 Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through a' rear light construction.

In these drawings, the automobile body is 11- lustrated as comprising a top 10, rear extension 11, front or hood extension 12 and sides 13. These elements may be formed of one or more pieces of sheet metal. The chassis is illustrated as comprising a deck piece 15 having integral therewith an upwardly turned dished front piece 16' constituting a radiator for the vehicle, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, on a slightly larger folded side portions which are elevated attheir' A curved sheet metal member 22, having 23 is located in an accessible position beneath the deck and is held between the deck 15 and its ledges 21, and may be slid rearwardly and thus disengaged therefrom.

An angle bracket 24 is secured to'the upper surface of the deck 15 opposite the rear end of the opening in thedeck (Figure 2) and has a crank lever 27 mounted onits vertical portion, by means of a pivot connection 28. The vertical arm of the crank lever 27 extends upwardly Within the body so that it may be operated by a finger passed through openings therein. The horizontal arm of the crank lever 27 has a downwardly and rearwardly curved end 29. The inner end of the bracket member 24 is arcuately cut away and preferably likewise has a downwardly and rearwardly curved end 30 for engaging the battery and resiliently forcing it forwardly.

A strip of insulating material 31 is folded around the front edge of the opening in the deck 15 (Figures 1 and 2) and receives a metal conductor member (Figure 3) having a rebent end 32 and an upwardly and forwardly inclined body portion 33 formed integral with a transverse extension 34 having upwardly directed resilient end tabs 35. Adjacent the end tabs, the width of the extension 34 is reduced'to provide shoulders 36, between which and the tabs 35 are secured the insulating sleeves 37. The insulations 31 and 37 are preferably of gummed flexible material such as friction taper a The front end of the hood piece 12, duringmanufacture, is provided with an upturned lug 38 (dotted lines, Figure 1) which may be inserted within a corresponding slot in the radiator section 16 of the chassis by holding the body at an acute angle with respect to the chassis. The body may then be rocked downward into position, andtoward the end of this rocking movement the body tabs 39 are inserted into slots 40 in the outer edge of the deck 15. The tabs 39 may then be clinched against the bottom of the deck 15 to hold the body and chassis in assembled position. The lug 38 may then likewise be folded down (full line position, Figure 1).

The front ends of the side sheets 13 are provided with notches 42. During the above noted assemblage, the conductor 33, 34 will have already been assembled in the deck opening. As the body is rocked into position, these notches 42 will receive the insulated sleeves 3'7 and thus ultimately clamp the extension 34 in its proper transverseposition in which the insulating sleeves prevent electrical contact of the extension with either theradiator section 16 or the side pieces 13, and

2 the tabs 35 are located directly behind the threaded sockets 44 which are connected to the radiator member 16 (Figure 2). The sockets 44 are provided with headlight portions 45 at their front ends and are adapted to receive incandescent bulbs whose threaded portions project through the rear thereof and present the central terminals 47 against the tabs 35'.

On the left rear mudguard 17, in the illustrative form, is shown a rear light comprising an inverted U-shaped sheet metal me'mber'SO arc'uately cut away at its front end to conform substantially to the shape of the rear rriudgu'ard- 1""! (Figure 6 and having the tabs 51 which are inserted'throu'gh slots 52 in the mudguard. The member 50 is finally joined to the mudguard as b'y a spbft weld 53. Within this U-shaped' member 50is'1likewise secured a rebent sheet metal piece'hav'ing' a downwardly extending broadened portion 54 representing the license of an automobile, a horizontal portion55 closing thebottoni of the U-shaped member 50, an apertured vertical member 56 closing thecross' section of the L l-shaped member 50, and a horizontal portion57 whichma'y'be joined to'the U-shaped membe'r'by'a spot weld. A separablespring-clip (Figure 5) comprising'the' spaced resilient curved arms 58 and a body portion 59 having-anangularly bent lip 60 may be placed in the cavity" provided bythe U-shaped member'50' 'andtlie closing-portion 55'. An-'in-- candescent bulb-- 61* may: then be pushed into positionso that it is held bythe' resiliency of the arms 58 with its central contact 62 resting-against an upsetend 3 63 of a conductor wire '64" having insulation 65thereonw The bare-end of the conductor wire 64 is passed through an insulated washer 66 which holds it'in' spaced relation from the walls-of the aforesaid cavity and obstructs the passage of light through the aperture, and through 'ametal washer 67' for assuring contact with the-incandescent bulb. The wire 64; 65 is passed beneath the mudguard and'th'e' deck 1-5 and upwardly throughan opening 68the deck and forwardly untilits front end fi icmay be engaged in th'e'hole 64b in'the'body portion 33 of theconductor.

In: operation astandard-flashlight cell 1? is normally located beneath the fingers 20*and is held in'position by the sheet metal member 22 (Figure 4) the "fingers ZO resilientlyengaging the cell'and preventing vibration thereof. The-usual exposed. zinc end of thecell is located at the front of the vehicle and in direct electrical contact with the body portion 33. The usual cardboard insulation C (Figure 4) 'onthe'cell prevents any gr'ounding" of the cell; and the shape" of the bracket24 -pre vents accidental, grounding of 'themarbon ter-* minal of the cell.

Whenit is desired to light the bulbs; thek'zra'nk lever 27 'is operated' in a counterclockwise "direction in Figure4. The end 29engages 'and movesonto-thecarbon terminal-of'the'cell and thus establishes acircuit from the" carbon terminalthrough' the lower cranK arm 27 'to' bracket 24" and thus to the chassis and body assemblage. Current is thusdelivered to the screw'threa'ds of the front headlight bulbs, through the filaments of these bulbs to the central terminals 47' thereef,'- with a return through the ta'bs I 35 and transverse extension" 34 to body po'rtion' 33 and "thus; back to the zinc' eleinent of the" cella Fer the rean light, current passes -tl'nough"- the *mud'g uardf l7 and the U-shapedinember-" SO to the threaded terminal of the rear bulb R} throughthe filament of this bulbjand thence back through "conductor" 64 to the body portion 33 of the conductor piece.

It will be noted that the bulbs may be easily replaced. The front or headlight bulbs are replaceable by unscrewing. The rear light bulb may be removed by engaging the thumbnail or a screwdriver point beneath thelip 60 and withdrawing the bifurcated member 58, 59, whereupon the rear bulb is free for removal. This rear bulb may be replaced by inserting the bifurcated member and bulb and forcing them into position. The

battery F maybe easily replaced by sliding the metal member 22 to the rear so that the battery cell maydrop out of the chassis opening. A new cell may" be substituted, and is positioned by engaging itsexposed zinc end with the body portion 33 and pushing the cell into position while theend 30of the bracket 24 yields resiliently and serves thereafter to hold the cell forwardly in its proper conductive relation with the body portion 33. The metal member 22 is then slid into position again.

It is obvious that the invention may be employedsin'oth'er ways, without departing from the scope'cf the inventive claims.

What is" claimed:

1'. Inatoy vehicle, a chassis assembly, a body assembly, a light support rigid with the chassis assembly, a light bulb in said support, a conductor member engaging the central terminal of said light bulb and including amember extending transversely of the vehicle, an insulating sleeve on said member, a battery having one of its terminals in conductive relationship with the chassis and body". and the other terminal in conductive relationship with said conductor member, said body and "chassis engaging'said sleeve and holdin'g'said conductor member in position while insulatedfrom said body' and chassis.

2. In a toy vehicle, an apertured sheet metal member having fingers directed across the aperture and ledges located in a plane substantially parallel to' the sheet, and a metal member having outwardly extending flanges for engagement tion and the body and being received within said notches;jand insulating sleeves on said transverse member'for supporting and insulating the same between said bent portion'and said body;

4.'In-atoy' vehicle,"a'chassis comprising an aperturedsheet metal'member having fingers direct'ed ac'ro'ss the aperture, means engageablev with-said sheet metal memberfor securing a batterybetween said means and'said fingers, an insulating member atthe'fr'ont'edge'of said aperture, a'ccindu'ctor-having a bent end mounted on said insulating member and extending upwardly,-"said' conductor having a transversely directed 'extension' with insulating sleeves thereon,

a radiator portionrigidat the front edge of said" sheet metahmeinber and including a rearwardly' direbteddlangeopposite said insulating sleeves,

light sockets mounted on saidradiator portion, light inisaid' sockets having their central terminals enga'g'ed with said transverse extension,

and a body having notches atits front edge to fit around said insulating sleeves and to press the same against said flange whereby to maintain said conductor insulatedly in position.

5., In a toy vehicle, means for providing a conductive tube, an insulatably mounted contact in said tube, a light bulb in said tube having its base in conductive relation to said tube and its central terminal engaged with said insulated con tact, and securing means slidable in said tube and including a body portion and spaced curved resilient arms for mechanically holding said light bulb in position in said tube.

6. A device as in claim 5, in which said body portion has a lip for limiting the inward movement of said body portion into said tube and for serving as a means of withdrawing said securing means from said tube.

7. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member having an aperture open to the exterior of the vehicle, inwardly curved fingers at the edges of said aperture, a battery in said aperture resting against said fingers, securing means on said chassis member for holding the battery upon said fingers, an insulating member at an edge of said aperture, a conductor member resting on said insulator and engaged with the zinc terminal of the battery, and a transversely extending bracket on said chassis member having a resilient extension engaged with the insulating compound of the battery and spaced from the carbon terminal thereof, said extension operating to hold the battery against said conductor.

8. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member having an aperture, a battery in said aperture, fingers limiting the inward movement of said battery, and removable means supported by the chassis member for holding the battery against said fingers.

9. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member having an aperture, a battery in said aperture, means on said member to hold the battery against movement into and out of said aperture, a conductor insulatedly supported on said member and engaged with the zinc terminal of said battery, a resilient member mounted on said chassis member and engaged with the insulation compound of said battery to hold the battery against said conductor member, and a pivotally mounted switch lever adapted to engage the carbon terminal of the battery for grounding said carbon terminal to the chassis member.

10. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member having an aperture, a battery adapted to be inserted in said aperture fingers on said chassis member "to limit the inward movement of the battery,

removable securing means on the chassis member to prevent outward movement of the battery, a conductor insulatedly supported at one edge of the aperture for engagement with the zinc terminal of the battery, and a guide member engageable by the battery during insertion into the aperture for resiliently guiding the battery into engagement with said conductor.

11. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member providing a pocket to receive a battery, removable means supported by the chassis member to hold the battery in position in said pocket, a conductor engageable by the zinc terminal of said battery, an insulating member on said chassis member for supporting the conductor opposite the portion thereof engaged by said battery, and means on said chassis member for engaging the insulating compound of the battery and holding the battery against said conductor.

12.. In a toyvehicle, a chassis member having an aperture and an upwardly directed portion providing a radiator section,--a battery located in said aperture, a conductor member having one end bent around an edge of said aperture and extending forwardly toward said radiator section, said conductor member also having a transverse extension projecting beyond said radiator section with upwardly extendingtabs at the ends thereof, light bulbs supported by and electrically connected to said radiator section, a body, an insulating member. separating said conductor and said chassis at said bent end, insulating pieces on said extension gripped between said radiator section and body and insulating said extension therefrom, and means for electrically connecting the other terminal of the battery to the chassis member.

13. In a toy vehicle, light supports mounted on the forward end of said vehicle, light bulbs in said supports, an integral one-piece conductor member insulatedly mounted on said vehicle and extending transversely thereof and having the ends thereof engaging one of the terminals of said light bulbs, a battery mounted on said vehicle and having one terminal thereof in conductive relationship with said vehicle and having the other terminal thereof in conductive relationship with said conductor member whereby to provide an electric light circuit, and means for opening and closing the electric circuit whereby to control the lighting effect.

14. In a toy vehicle, a unitary conductor member extending transversely of said vehicle at the forward end thereof, means for insulatedly mounting said conductor member on said vehicle, means for mounting a plurality of light bulbs with one terminal thereof in direct contact with said conductor member, a battery, means for mounting said battery on said vehicle with one terminal thereof in direct contact with said conductor member, and a switch lever pivotally mounted on said vehicle and adapted to be moved into contact with the other battery terminal to provide an electrical connection between said other battery terminal and said light bulbs.

15. In a toy vehicle, means including a unitary conductor member insulatedly mounted on said vehicle and extending transversely thereof for providing an electric circuit, light bulbs spaced apart, means for mounting said light bulbs with one of the terminals thereof in conductive relationship with said conductor member, a battery, means for removably mounting said battery on said vehicle with one terminal thereof in conductive relationship with said conductor member, and switch means for opening and closing the electric lighting circuit.

16. In a toy vehicle, a chassis member having an aperture therein, a battery adapted to be inserted through said aperture, stationary means above the aperture in said chassis member for preventing movement of said battery, and means removably connected to said vehicle below the aperture in said chassis member for aiding in preventing movement of said battery.

17. In a toy vehicle, means for providing a con-- ductive support, a contact insulatedly mounted in said support, a light bulb carried by said support and having the central terminal thereof in conductive relationship with said contact and the other terminal thereof in conductive relationship with said support, and separate removable securing means for mechanically holding said light bulb in said support.

18. In a'toy vehicle, a "chassis member having an opening therein, a "battery, rneans i including a portion of the metal removed to form said opening for'hol'ding said"battery in position, light supports mounted on said vehicle, light bulbs in said light supports, and means for providing an electric connection'between said'battery and said light bulb's for'illunnnating'the same.

19; In a 'toy'vehicle, a "chassis-member having an opening therein, a. battery insertable: in said opening for positioning the same, stationary means secured to "said chassis member for aidi-ngv in holding said battery, a separate device're movably secured to said vehicle for further holding "said battery, light bulbs spaced/transversely of "said vehicle and carried thereby, means incl'u'ding'a transversely extending bus-bar'mounted on said vehicle in conductive relation to one terminal of eachof saidilight bulbs'and indirect contact with one terminalof said battery zfor providing' an electric circuit, and 'a' switch device for controlling 'the electric lighting circuit.

"20.jIn "a toy vehicle, a "battery, "means 'for mounting said batteryonsaid vehicle a light sup- 1 port 'o'nsaidvehicle, a lightbulbin said light'support,n1eans including a sheet metal conductor member for providing an electric circuit, means for insulat'edy mounting said conductor member on said vehicle 'With'a part thereof in direct contact-with one terminal of said light bulb and with another part thereof in direct contact with one terminal of said battery whereby to avoid the necessity of Wiring, and switch means for operating the electric circuit whereby to control the lighting effect.

21. In a toy vehicle, a battery, means for mounting said battery on said vehicle, lightsu'pports carried by said vehicle, light bulbs in said supports, means including a sheet metal conductor member extending between one terminal of each of said light bulbs and in conductive'relationshiptherewlth for providing an electric circuit, said conductor member having a portion thereof extending away from the part extending between said'light bulb terminals and directly contacting with one terminal of said battery,-.and switeh'means engageabie with the other battery terminal for completing the electric lighting circuit.

HARRY T. KINGSBURY. 

